If you were at ICES in Philly or Dallas this year, you probably saw some of our instructors, Kate, Jeni and Charlene, promoting BonVital, Performance Health and how their products work so well with Ashiatsu and Ashi-Thai.
We love to use their Foot Balm during Ashi-Thai when we focus on the clients feet – it gives great traction for us, and a lovely tingle for them. During the Ashiatsu massages that glide on the skin, we’ve found that a small mix of the Fractionated Coconut Oil added to the Therapeutic Touch Creme make for a gerat medium to engage tissue while still maintaining an even paced and pressured slide from our feet. The Muscle Therapy creme has the same traction as the Therapeutic Touch line, but has the added benefits of Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Arnica in it! For years we’ve been adding a small drop of Prossage oil…
Heeling Sole is not only San Antonio’s favorite place to get a deeper than deep tissue massage, it’s also the hub of all things barefoot massage for the state of Texas. As one of only 14 Ashiatsu DeepFeet Bar Therapy training facilities in the nation, Heeling Sole is part massage clinic, part massage continuing education center, and part yoga/mobility studio.
Massage Therapists from all over the country flock to Jeni Spring’s Ashiatsu workshops in San Antonio, Texas for excellent training in how to massage with their feet. The beginner level class that every licensed massage professional must start with is the Barefoot Basics class.
Barefoot Basics is DeepFeet Bar Therapy’s beginner level Ashiatsu training. This modern adaptation of an ancient “heeling” barefoot massage technique uses the therapists’ feet like hands! The client relaxes on a supportive, comfortable massage table, while the massage therapist holds onto overhead bars for balance & safe distribution of their body weight, massaging through foot pressure.
Using their feet to go deep, massage students learn to provide a therapeutic and relaxing session for the client who needs more pressure. Standing on the massage table with their hands gently holding the bars, one soft foot will be sliding, gliding, rolling and compressing clients with ease as they experience the “deepest, most luxurious massage” while the therapists stretch, breathe and dance their way through each session.
This 3 day class focuses only on the posterior aspect of the body, teaching ways to easily engage the larger muscles groups and deeper layers of fascial tissue for treatment of chronic pain symptoms. The techniques taught in Barefoot Basics offers quality continuing education for the massage therapist seeking effective deep tissue massage therapy classes. (To learn the strokes that apply to the front and side aspects of the body, simply attend Anterior/Sidelying, which is a 1 day course offered after Barefoot Basics.)
Barefoot Basics will allow these advanced massage therapists to get an edge on the massage market in their area and offer a unique approach to bodywork with DeepFeet Bar Therapy (AKA Ashiatsu Oriental Bar Therapy). Experienced instructors will discuss marketing strategies to help trainees integrate this new technique into their business, allowing them to offer Ashiatsu massage anywhere. Learn a variety of ways to build and install Ashiatsu bars correctly and easily in any situation. Feel every stroke from the instructor. Daily “feet on” practice on fellow students, the instructor, and the public during training, ensure confidence in applying the technique out in the real world. Small classes limited to 8-10 massage therapists allow for detailed instruction and one on one time.
After training (for you LMT’s out there) your own self-study Certification process begins with documented practical sessions and testing based on the information provided in class. Helpful graduate services and a community of barefoot massage therapists are available for ongoing career support. To supplement and deepen your understanding of the technique, intermediate and advanced level classes, and refresher courses are available for graduates. Instructional videos available, too!
If you are a Licensed Massage Therapist, what are you waiting for? Come learn the one-footed, deep pressured gliding strokes of Ashiatsu Barefoot Bar massage! You can easily apply protocols learned in this class to your existing massage sessions by just hopping up onto the table to save your body and go deeper where it’s needed most, or offer Ashiatsu as a standalone treatment for a full body massage with steady, consistent broad-based pressure from head to toe.
So if you are a massage professional, or know someone who is, then come to class and save your body from stress and strain, lengthen your career and have fun massaging with Ashiatsu!
We love Amanda and, if you’ve met her, we know you love her too.
How long have you been an LMT?
In 2002, I had the honor of becoming an LMT and began my adventures with Deepfeet ashiatsu studies starting in 2005. More recently, after taking a break from my massage career while living in Europe, I have really enjoyed refreshing and updating my ashiatsu skills this year with Jeni and her feetastic team at Heeling Sole. I am constantly honing my skills and learning new things to bring my best to your massage session.
What do you enjoy most in your role as an LMT?
Deep sighs of relief from my clients are what I enjoy most in my work. Facilitating healing, assisting people in letting go of stress and tension, helping them in improving their mobility, and in feeling better in general, these are a few of my favorite things.
What is your favorite muscle group to work on?
Favorite muscle group to work: It’s tough to choose! I see the body, mind and spirit as a complete tapestry, a big picture. That said, I really enjoy working with the back and neck. See? I can’t choose just one group.
What information do you like to receive about your clients before, during and after a session?
What I like to know from clients: your health history, goals for the session if any, feedback about pressure during the massage, how you feel afterwards and what changes you notice immediately and in the following days post massage. Also, I believe details make a difference; whether it be the kind of music you like to enjoy during your massage to what areas you most enjoy having worked, I believe my art is that much better when I am aware of these things.
What drew you to ashiatsu?
Early in my massage career, I read a magazine article about ashiatsu. I found it interesting and filed it in mind for reference, but it wasn’t until I had been doing 6 or 7 consecutive deep tissue massages a day by hand that the article resurfaced to the forefront of my mind. I knew that ashiatsu was going to be a much more effective deep massage for my clients and that it was also going to prolong my career. Back then, I happened to find an opportunity with a wellness center that already offered Deepfeet ashiatsu and promptly signed up for ashiatsu training.
Final thoughts: I am currently seeking 7 new dedicated monthly or bi-monthly clients; would you like to be one of my 7?
Massage Therapists from across the country are asking me about my Ashiatsu straps and how to use them. These extra supports are something I’ve had in my practice since my first year or so practicing Ashiatsu, influenced by aerial yoga, chavutti thirumal and my own pure laziness. It’s a great tool to help you get up to your bars anywhere, rather than just at the head or foot ends of the table.
It will help you to save your hands even further, by not needing to death grip the bars anytime you need to lean out, and it will really help give you smooth leverage during the Ashi-Thai and Anterior/Sidelying moves.
Whatever you do – safety is the main factor, with “making your life easier” in second place. So always check that all the equipment you use during an Ashiatsu session can support your weight, will stay secured, will remain stealthy silent, and will help you…
Rose has been an LMT since July of 2007, and was trained in Ashiatsu here at Heeling Sole from 2014-2015. She started her Ashiatsu journey in order to provide deeper pressure to her client’s achy tissue, without adding extra strain to her hands and wrists. She says, “my feet wanted to get in on the action!” She was such a natural that Jeni took her on as an intern during the fall and winter of 2015. Now she’s a full grown ‘squatch, and she’s ready to tackle your chronic pain and get you back to doing the things you love! Rose’s favorite muscle groups are the Cervical and Shoulder muscles, but she’s got the skills to work on any muscle tissue that’s giving you problems. Before your massage with Rose, she would like to know your goals for the massage, and what kind of pressure you like. If you don’t know, don’t worry! She’ll keep communication open during the entire massage, and make sure you get the most out of your appointment.
Rose says, “I am blessed to have attained this training, so that I may spread it one massage at a time and make positive changes in people’s bodies.”
Schedule an appointment today! Rose is available for appointments on Mondays from 9:30am-5:30om, Wednesdays from 1:30-6:30pm and Fridays from 9:30am-1pm!
Going bar-less today, creating a moving meditation within my deep tissue sports massage here in San Antonio, focusing on intentional EVERYTHING! Without the support of my overhead bars, I had to make every movement carefully & hone in on my balance, not rely on something else to hold me up, NO CRUTCHES, figurative or literal, even though I was 2 feet off the gound.
My barefoot massage sessions today at the Alamo Heights Farmers Market had more Anma, Fijian, Thai, Deeperwork, along with a little bitta Rossiter & Breema in them (go ahead, look all that up… or check out this page on my website which summarizes how we utilize each amazing technique) rather than my usual schtick of Ashiatsu or Ashi-Thai. No bars? Then it’s not ashi, that’s how it goes. Truly.
I even tried to pull of my fave Ashiatsu moves, but they don’t work the same, and they were definitely not effortless without my trusty bars. The bodymechanics, leverage, ease in transferring weight & trust that comes with always having a hold on those overhead support system was gone, & definitely not replicable through the flimsy metal tent frame & horizontal swingy rope. Everytime I tried my Ashi moves, I knew it wasn’t feeling the same to my client, because I wasn’t feeling that the same intent, forces of gravity and leverage, release of pressure and trust were there. I couldn’t get it to happen the same. Nothing can replace the original, no need to reinvent the wheel, today’s exersize in experimentation proved that, and let me pay more attention to the underlying studies I’ve done in other forms of Barefoot massage.
Using my good ‘ol rope that I used to employ back in the days when I offered my Thai & Fijian massages on the floor, I only had enough support incase I wobbled… but I didn’t wobble once!
Being the Ashiatsu purist that I am, and how much I try to preach about its legacy and lineage, I felt untrue to these other forms of barefoot massage by being up off the ground! There’s a method to the madness, and the more I focus on only using my feet to massage, the more training I get in all these techniques, and the more I study the theories behind them I realize that you can bring other barefoot massage styles into an Ashiatsu session, but you can’t bring Ashiatsu into another style of Barefoot Massage unless you have those bars: they are really the magic that makes this specific massage happen.
Heeling Sole owner Jeni Spring providing San Antonio’s best deep tissue sports massage at the Alamo Heights 78209 Farmers Market in Carousel Court
Anyways, I just wanted to post this because 1) I am a rad independent chick who don’t need no support! STAND BACK: I GOT THIS! and 2) because I totally love the support of my Ashiatsu bars & realize how much they’ve enriched my massage as well as my life. Much gratitude to my lovely bars, I take you & everything you offer for granted sometimes.
Metaphors all over the place. Wow.
On that note, if you want to try something similar but different for your next massage at Heeling Sole, ask if your session could be done in our new room, where we’ll take our massage back to its ancestral roots & put it back on the floor. I didn’t put bars up in this room so that we can challenge ourselves to utilize ALL the other amazing styles of barefoot massage that exist. Our Sasquatch staff at Heeling Sole is not only trained in Ashiatsu, but also Fijian, Thai, & soon the whole staff will have Rossiter under their belts.
Get grounded at Heeling Sole & try our floor-based barefoot massage!
At heeling Sole we are proud of all of our Sasquatch staff, whether it is our LMTs Or Our Yogis! This week we are highlighting our LMT Jessica who is one of three LMTs at Heeling Sole up for nomination as Best Massage Therapist in The San Antonio Current!
Our deep and specific sports massage specialist: She loves working with specific tissue-issues, assessing all angles of your muscles to improve your range of motion and mobility, preventing injury! We sat down with Jessica and asked her a few questions so you could get to know her.
How long have you been an LMT?
I have been practicing Massage Therapy and Ashiatsu since 2009.
What do you enjoy most in your role as an LMT?
I enjoy being able to help people. Wether it be just for the experience and getaway from life, or addressing underlying chronic issues to help them life a more pain free life.
What is your favorite muscle group to work on?
Hips and shoulders. I find that there are so many restrictions here that inhibit a lot of “normal” body movements. When you can address the smaller overlooked muscle groups and see dramatic change it really is amazing. The client feels better and you remove the stigma of it just being the larger muscle groups. If it’s made it that far and it’s chronic, 9 times out of 10 that’s not where the issue is.
What information do you like to receive about your clients before, during, and after a session?
Gosh! This answer is all over the board. I’ve had people be so unsure about what we do and try to opt for just the Ashli-Thai portion. But when I take a few minutes and educate them on what the modality is, they are very receptive and open to try. After they almost always feel like that was the best massage experience they’ve ever had, they feel relaxed yet feel that everything was addressed in such detail that they can’t believe how much work we can provide in our sessions.
What drew you to Ashiatsu?
My first job out of massage school offered ashiatsu. I was reluctant at first to see the bars in the ceiling and immediately asked what they were and why they were there. They explained it to me, I received a session, and the following week I was signed up to take the class. Mainly is was the amount of surface area that could be covered and the way the strokes are applied that really caught my attention. I knew with my sports background this would be the perfect tool to set me apart from the crowd. So I embraced the change and began to perfect my craft.
Final thoughts?
If you love anatomy, movement of the human body, and love a challenge then this is the perfect modality to take. Lacking any 2 of these together I have noticed that it’s harder to grasp the concept of this work. The passion for massage must be there first. The more in detail you know your anatomy, the easier the neurological connection from brain to foot becomes and makes this modality the work of art it really is. I will forever be thankful for Ruthie for putting so much effort into this modality and molding it into what is has become today. She has a great team of instructors behind her that uphold the integrity of the company with the upmost respect and I’m glad to be a part of it. I’m currently 7 years into my career and here’s to another 10 or more.
You can book with Jessica on Monday 2-6pm, Tuesday and Friday 9:30-1pm, Thursday 9:30-6pm and select weekends.
And Dont Forget to vote for Jessica in the Best of SA contest as Best Massage Therapist today through March 25th
Massage Therapists from all over the country flock to Jeni Spring’s Ashiatsu workshops in San Antonio, Texas for excellent training in how to massage with their feet. The beginner level class that every licensed massage professional must start with is the Barefoot Basics class.
